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As always, Politico.com readers have been fast and furious in their responses to the leading political stories of the day. Karl Rove's resignation -- long called for by Democrats, but steadfastly fought by President Bush -- prompted comments both serious and celebratory.

Reader Pragmatist said, "Rove's political genius is waaay overrated. Bush lost the popular vote and got the lowest vote percentage of a reelected president and Rove's tactics … broke new ground in scorched earth politics. That's fine as long as you're ahead (and care more about your party than your country) but it's really bad when you lose, as he did."

Bey7 said, "Karl Rove is leaving the White House. As a republican I believe this is a good choice for America. After all here is the one man who helped elect the dumbest man ever to hold the oval office."

Whiterosesocietyman commented that "Rove is brilliant...but so was Goebbels!" Another poster, Tehehehe, responded: "And so was Gandhi! I am so glad Rove is more like Gandhi than Goebbels! I think we can all agree on that! In every case, Rove argued for the "peaceful" method of dealing with political enemies, while Goebbels sent them to death camps."

JacksonDC was less damning of Rove's political tactics. "Rove plays dirty? Of course he does -- who doesn't play dirty in America, or the world for that matter? Playing dirty is a way to get ahead of the game with or without your opponents knowing about it … Getting down and dirty is how you win games, not by sitting back and letting your opponents gain the advantage," he said.

Several readers speculated on Rove's reason for resigning now, less than a year and a half before the end of Bush's second term. "I'm a Republican and I can see through the Rove spin. Let's face it, King Karl is bailing on 43 because his reputation as the architect is being tarnished. Better to get out now and make some serious cash from his book deal. Plus, no more investigations. Don't worry about the legal bills -- a Rove defense fund is just around the corner," said poster Kappy.

Rove's mourners pointed to his near-legendary political acumen: Steelheadela said, "Rove whipped liberals at every corner, in every election. … Despised? Hardly, unless you're a leftwing hack whose idea of America is socialism and surrender." The same poster pointed out that "he was hired to win elections and that's what he did. And he did it exceptionally well."

Hal B went further, saying, "Karl Rove is one of the best political minds of all time. The Dems tried to railroad him and vilify him at every turn and were never successful."

The more skeptical poster Candide said of Rove's political tactics, "Rove is in a long line of Republican operative who have followed faithfully the line of Joseph Goebbels: use the big lie about your opponents and you will always win."

Rove's future plans were also the subject of speculation among posters. "Rove will be back behind the scenes soon, helping either Rudy or Fred. Now that will reef the shorts of the lefties," said Right-minded Frank.

Ray in Maryland, interested in the timing of the announcement said, "I think his departure signals that the Bush administration is over. We will all be marking time for the next eighteen months."

Reader Howie in Seattle responded, "The real back story -- his disastrous 'MC Rove' performance. His attempt to 'get down with the brothers' began to raise the question: 'Is he white enough?' And I hope this means that now he will be responsible for his own legal bills."

Readers' Comments (10)

Don't be suprised if this snake has anything up his sleeve. Karl does everything for a reason so I would not be suprised if he was named CEO of Halliburton or some crap like that. He may even come out and say that the Iraq war was all the President's idea and he was trying to bring our troops home or some BS like that.

Rove's experience further proves the obvious rule that you can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit. He may have been successful at duping 51% (or 49% as the case may be) of the voting public into support Bush but ultimately he couldn't make Bush up to the job. Sadly, America is stuck holding the bag. That said, Bush would have made an excellent appliance salesman.

It is no big surprise people are leaving the Bush administration. It is common for staff and cabinet members to leave early when a president who cannot run again.. Rove will need a job at the end of Presidents Bush's "REIGN". Instead of some big indictment, I suspect Rove is leaving to help the RNC as he has in the past... Develop "dirty tick" campaigns full of lies and half truths. If he is writing a book about the so-called "biased Liberal media", he has plenty of half truths and lies he has helped to create as basis for his book. Culture on the radio has been replaced by right ranting of half truths and LIES. Now days media based on intelligent dialog, thought fullness and facts is painted as as "biased liberal media?. The sad truth is that an increasingly uninformed public buys it. Anytime the "Separation of Church and state" is mentioned the right try to defend thier violations of this constitutional principle by claiming " seculars" are trying to turn this Christian nation into a secular nation DUH. Our Founding Fathers in fact designed this nation to be a "Secular" Democracy. What we should fear most is the lose of our own Democracy from within. The fundamentalist Christian Theocrats in the U.S. that Rove helps promote, have no respect for our Constitution and the rule of law. One of the defining constitutional freedoms that define a Democracy and make it different from a Theocracy is the "Separation of Church and State? . The right in the U.S who rant about fundamentalist Islam are not much different than them. The attempt by Islamic fundamentals to force women to wear Burchas is not much different than the attempt by the Christian right in the U.S to deny women in the their "privacy rights" in regard to legal abortion. The cornerstone of the Islamic "terrorism" is creating fear. Rove, Bush and the right wing media have helped promoted this "Fear" which feeds right into the terrorist goals. At the same time they also create fear of the so-called "secular liberals" as a way to dismantle to true principles of our Democracy.

There's no proof that Rove would have stayed even if Bush had an 80% approval rating. As another pointed out, presidential aids come and go, even the top tier ones. Mr. Rove is not evil incarnate, but an American who worked for Pres. Bush. He's a young guy who'll go on serving in other ways. The media and Dems tried their best to Bork him...or Gingrich him...or Delay him....or you pick. Funny how the simple act of one guy leaving can throw the Dems into a quandry. Now they've got to switch around the pecking order of targets and demons.

Rove didn't help Bush win 2 elections, he helped him steal 2 elections-vote counts after it was too late showed that Gore won Florida and Kerry won Ohio-it's tragic to see how many people all over the world are dead because of this-this truly shows that elections DO matter, and more people are getting involved because of it-that may be the only positive thing to come from this disaster for our country-if we HAVE elections, that is-there are conservative Republicans who fear that this administration will allow another attack on our soil so they can declare Martial Law, using their latest directive-Cheney has been the de facto president and now he wants the title-we live in scary times.

After reading some of the posts, Wow! The fact that people can't see that Rove helped destroy America is amazing. It sure does explain why America is bankrupt, millions of jobs leaving, trillions in tax dollars looted and a war with no end. On a positive note, he did crucify those gay marriage terrorists and stop those universal health care abortionists. Good job Carl, for getting so many high school drop outs to vote for ya boy.... Galvanizing an army of the simplest minded and rigging elections all in one year...priceless!

Poor old, tired, worn out status quo Democrats! And just think, I used to be one of you so many years ago. Every time one of you lose an election all you can do is cry, whine, and whimper that it was stolen from you like you truly believe it's your birthright, and yours alone, to hold political offices of power. Truth be known, Rove found a way to beat the pants off of you fair and square by taking your agenda away from you. That's what has you so upset, because now every Republican has a template for winning to follow! Are you that arrogant and stupid to see it? All Democrats have left to run on is fear mongering, class envy, and the same old tired Socialistic ideology that no one wants. Tell me one, new bright idea a Democrat candidate has come up with that doesn't involve Socialism or more governmental intrusion upon our lives! You can't! Rove exposed you all for what you are, and you are all livid about it. That's the only reason why you were after him in the first place, not because he ever did anything wrong. Shame on all of you. Why don't you grow up?

I am pig-biting mad that none of my fabulous comments--like "I may be an elite, effete snob, but that doesn't stop me from believing Bush and Rove are scuzzy sulfurous scumbags who sold their souls to Satan and will soon join other malignant polyps in his unholy black hole; that elite n' effete enough for y'all KKKarl?" weren't included in your story. That is my comment re this commentary about comments.